An island nation in the south-western Pacific Ocean, New Zealand was one of the last countries on Earth to be inhabited by humans. As such, it still retains much of the unique flora and fauna that draw people to New Zealand. Walking through the cities and trekking through the countryside are great ways to get to know the individual aspects of each area. But if you prefer a more gentile experience rather than camping in the wilds, and like your dinner served to you instead of catching it for yourself, why not do a guided culinary walk through the capital city of Wellington?
Wellington is the third most populous city and is located on the south-western tip of the northern island of New Zealand. Walking around the city with a knowledgeable tour leader will show introduce you to the ins and outs of the culinary capital of the country, which has more restaurants per capita than New York City.
Coffee - Wellington is the coffee headquarters of New Zealand. Walking just a few steps from any inner-city boutique hotel will lead you to one of the many coffee houses where you can get your fix. One of the first stops in the morning on any guided walk through Wellington's culinary scene, should be at Mojo, located at Shed 13, 37 Customhouse Quay. This coffee house and roastery is arguably the centre of New Zealand's coffee scene and is housed in a 'Historic Places Trust - Category One' registered building. It provides artisan-roasted beans to a variety of other cafes and restaurants in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch as well.
Chocolate - In New Zealand, walking from location to location may be the best way to see the culinary sights while allowing you to indulge at each individual stop. This is especially the case in Wellington when you join a chocolate-based guided walk around the city's chocolatiers! One of the best stops for chocolate lovers is the L'affaire au Chocolat located at 464 Adelaide Road, Berhampore. Here you can watch chocolatier Jo Coffey expertly craft the chocolates and you can even have a tasting session while learning about the history of chocolate and the process involved in taking the cocoa bean from the tree to your hand.
Michelin Starred Dining - To round out your day of guided New Zealand walking in Wellington, your tour leader should make you reservations at one of the city's most exclusive restaurants, Zibibbo, located at 25 - 29 Taranaki Street. The restaurant was opened in 2000 by Adam Newell, one of only two Michelin starred chefs in New Zealand. Once you arrive, you will be treated to exceptional service and an array of Spanish inspired dishes with wine pairings. If you really enjoy yourself and want something even more special, you can also book in for a cookery master class, where you will learn to make a three-course meal with Newell himself.